Gigantoproductus

Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum, Geology Collection

This Gigantoproductus was a brachiopod which lived on the sea floor during the early Carboniferous Period, around 360-290 million years ago. Brachiopods have existed for almost 600 million years and are still to be found today. Although most creatures with two opposed hinged shells (such as cockles and mussels) are known as bivalves, brachiopods are so different internally that they belong to a separate phylum (a grouping of species). Gigantoproductus was the largest brachiopod to have existed.

Reference: DB.7676

Reproduced with the permission of Glasgow City Council, Glasgow Museums